Wilkinson Trac II/ Atra blades

**EJ+1305Guy** · 03-23-2012, 05:35 PM

Anyone here ever used them? How do they compare to the Gillette ones?

**akira2a** · 03-23-2012, 07:52 PM

While I can't compare them the the 'Gillette' brand (too expensive) I do use the Wilkinson Sword Trac II / Atra blades from walmart when I need a quick 1 or 2 pass shave.

I use them with the Bump Fighter handle that you can also get walmart (its a Trac II handle with a rubber grip) for about $6.

While its hard to get a very close shave with these things you can get a DFS with very little (or no) burn with the right technique. I found the standard DE technique works well with this setup (correct angle, no pressure, map face, beard reduction, WTG,XTG,ATG, etc.). But this setup has one quirk you need to keep in mind. You need to rinse the razor head of lather more often then you would with a DE. The blade assembly in the head will hold lather like a pocket and (for a lack of a better term) Hydroplane the area you are trying to shave without cutting any stubble. Thus a sub par shave. To solve this use a water based Lather (I use Kiss my Face Cream) and Rinse the razor head AND blades every 2 or 3 strokes (maybe more or less, use your own judgement). I almost gave up DE shaving with this setup because it was the easiest DFS with no burn shave I could get. But not as fun as DE. So I keep it as my 'NEED A SHAVE AND I NEED IT DONE NOW' setup.

I hope that helps.

**Foyle** · 03-23-2012, 08:34 PM

They are better than the Gillette cartridges IMO.

**Goob** · 03-23-2012, 08:55 PM

Agreed. Maybe the best twin-blade cartridge shave I ever experienced was with an Atra loaded with a Wilkinson Sword Cartridge.

**Sledgehammer39** · 03-24-2012, 03:40 AM

They are excellent blades. Give it a try, for three dollars and change its a cheap experiment.

**ateace** · 03-24-2012, 06:09 AM

These are what I use for travel and they'd be my choice if I went back to carts full-time.

**Mandina** · 03-24-2012, 11:36 AM

I use CVS Atra-style blades (purchased on sale on line for 25 cents each) in my Headblade, and they work as well as the real Atras. Evidently the CVS Atra-style blades are made by Dorco (S. Korea), as are the Headblade-brand blades.